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Spoilers => Prog => Topic started by: Colin YNWA on 04 April, 2020, 04:35:35 PM

Title: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Colin YNWA on 04 April, 2020, 04:35:35 PM
Well that's a pointed Prog tag line or what!

Anyway to matters more important.

I salute you Phoenix.
I salute you Tharg.

Two weeks in and the exeption efforts of all creative types and production types and delivery types have meant that we're two for two for uninterupted entertainment and thrills. This may get boring if they keep this up but in these plague ridden times I fully intend to keep saluting folks for as long as they can manage this.

Oh and what a cover Simon Fraser gives us... I'm not going to use spoiler tags for this anymore as its all over the place and this is a spoiler thread so... of Hershey. Just wonderful.

Inside we get Dyer and Niemand on Dredd - bit of a dream team that... though for Niemand its not his best, Its sweet and eerie but feels like. I mean its still good, just not what I've come to expect of Niemand good.

Survival Geeks is fun, if I got a little lost with the action at one point, other than that looks wonderful.

Skip Tracer does what Skip Tracer does, its solid.

Aquila gives us a quick histroy lesson. We'll skip the debate about the actual events that took place... or didn't... its a stirring tale with a blinding ending.

And whatever we think about it being here Hershey is the star of the show. Its top class high octane thrills with art and particularly colouring that really evelates it. Astoinshing good.

Good Prog with in the circumstance makes it astonishing. Once again Tharg we stand on our virtual doorsteps and applaud you.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Tjm86 on 04 April, 2020, 07:25:20 PM
Looks like its going to be another Monday / Tuesday prog in these parts.  In these strange times it is very much a "first world" problem to be sure.

Will be worth the wait, looking forward to seeing the 2nd part of Hershey.  Fraser's return is very much appreciated.  Didn't someone once say that half the pleasure is in the anticipation?
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 04 April, 2020, 07:46:19 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/9WCEX64.jpg)
Simon Fraser
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: broodblik on 04 April, 2020, 09:47:50 PM

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EUlrNkAUEAEWHht?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Jacqusie on 05 April, 2020, 11:17:09 AM
Nice to see a Simon Fraser cover after what seems far too long. As a regular in the prog for so long, with Dante's finale it seemed like we'd said fairwell to the artist too.

In regards to the story, I for one felt that the events in Guatamala were all a bit sudden and we didn't see any back story from Hershey's side. So when she had this sudden onset of space-bug and died, for sure it was emotional and typical powerful Wagnerian scripting, but a little hollow touched by regret that we didn't get more backstory.

Hershey has been delt a raw deal in the past with some of her exploits, some of her solo stories were ok with some as filler and lets not go there in the way she was so incompetantly portrayed in 'Every Empire Falls.

So I might be in the minority here, but I was pleased to see that she survived and the wider plot involved a twist in the story by Wagner and Williams. Looking forward to how this pans out and hopefully she'll get the story that she finally deserves... it's certainly looking that way so far.

PS: What is going on with the harsh colouring in Dredd? Waaay OTT. Now Aquilla, that's lovely...
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Blue Cactus on 05 April, 2020, 05:48:18 PM
Three cheers to everyone working on the prog right now, what an effort. Heartfelt thanks to you all and I hope you can keep going. It's a real gift at the moment.

Dredd - I've enjoyed the slightly more optimistic Dredd's we've had with this and the last two stories. I wouldn't want happy-ish endings all the time but it's nice to have some, and see Dredd's sense of justice intact in Niemand's latest. I didn't mind all the pinks at all - looks like the city is bathed in a nice sunset for a change. This is making Dredd all sound very pleasant but what the heck, I enjoyed it.

Can't find fault with Survival Geeks, it's not my favourite strip in the world but is solid lighthearted fun and Googe is really knocking out the park these days. Loving his layouts and the design of THE COSMIC QUARTET (tm).

Skip Trace does it's thing and raises the stakes beyond the Cube. Are there any authorities Blake could tell about this who might like to help out, or is there a reason he has to do it himself? This strip looks fabulous as always.

Aquila presents a nicely gruesome scenario and a touch of the supernatural. Interested to see where this goes.

The jury is still out on Hershey for me, much as I love the creative team behind it. I know I'm echoing what others have said but Guatemala was so understated and touching I feel a bit uneasy about the premise here. There's a nice character touch with Hershey's reaction to the age of her assailants here and it's this kind of nuance I'll be relying on to make this feel worthwhile. It does kind of seem like [spoiler]Hershey would have been blasted to bits the minute she set foot on the ground if the biker dude hadn't save her[/spoiler]. Tharg sounds a little too pleased with himself about revealing Hershey's not dead in his Thargnote this week, and I'm willing to let him off given his commitment to keep prividing the thrills in difficult times.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Leigh S on 05 April, 2020, 06:45:04 PM
It is possible I'll enjoy the Hershey story more as "What Hershey did Before" than "What Hershey did Next", though as a confirmed Smileysceptic (ANTHRAX"with some biscuits and a cup of teeeaaaa!"?ANTHRAX ) not sure the underlying motivation for her travels is going to give it much weight for me personally, not as Tordelback(?) pointed out can I think too long on why Hershey didn't go guns out to save her relatives as a priority, though that might be clearer as we go on.  Going to enjoy the hell out of that Simon Fraser art at least!
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Proudhuff on 06 April, 2020, 04:26:54 PM
Enjoyed a Saturday delivery, thank you Tharg, his do we and RM posties! A really well doneprog, great mixture of art, stories and colouring, extra lube all round, even if you had to send it out to the droids co-habs!
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: The Monarch on 07 April, 2020, 08:00:16 AM
So i am finally in the sub territory at this point the current situation kinda forced my hand. should i expect this prog today?
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Colin YNWA on 07 April, 2020, 08:32:21 AM
Quote from: The Monarch on 07 April, 2020, 08:00:16 AM
So i am finally in the sub territory at this point the current situation kinda forced my hand. should i expect this prog today?

I wonder how many others have gone this route in these times? Tharg might be finding a uptick with comic shops closed - who knows.

Anyway I guess this one will land when the printers (does it still come direct from the printers?) and Royal Mail are able to safely dispatch and deliever - might expect a delay on your first one? With any luck after than you'll get a lovely dose of thrillpower every Saturday... or Monday... occasionally Tuesday and you hear the gnashing of teeth if its any later than that!
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: paddykafka on 07 April, 2020, 10:35:22 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 07 April, 2020, 08:32:21 AM
Quote from: The Monarch on 07 April, 2020, 08:00:16 AM
So i am finally in the sub territory at this point the current situation kinda forced my hand. should i expect this prog today?

I wonder how many others have gone this route in these times? Tharg might be finding a uptick with comic shops closed - who knows.

I'm still living in hope, and keeping faith, that my favourite comics vendor, Sub-City Comics in Dublin - run by two great lads, Rich & Rob - will reopen for business when this current crisis is over. You will have to take the physical copy of the Prog from my cold, dead hands.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: 73north on 07 April, 2020, 10:45:29 PM
I received my copy on time - on a Saturday -
and thoroughly enjoyed it -
I would agree that HERSHEY was pretty good  , but Gordon Rennie's AQUILA was the best strip
for me, followed by the one off DREDD - with SKIP TRACER being so - so
and sadly , I can't wait to see the back of Survival Geeks =
anyway , some pleasant reading to get way from the dire times lately
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: TordelBack on 08 April, 2020, 01:28:31 PM
Quote from: paddykafka on 07 April, 2020, 10:35:22 AM
You will have to take the physical copy of the Prog from my cold, dead hands.

100% agreement there, but for now I'm digital - I'll grab the physical issues through Big Bang when this is all over.  I don't mind paying twice (or in some cases five times) for primo thrills.

Another near-miraculous plague-prog, and solid as solid can be. 

Cover absolutely fantastic. Fraser is a marvel, and very welcome back.

Getting most pleasure from Survival Geeks these days. Googe's bright and bubbly art seems incredibly well-suited to screen-reading, and I'm all for something light-hearted at  the moment.

Dredd was alarmingly apposite, but as Colin says, not Niemand's best, and while the Dyer art is fabarooney, the heavy muted colours are a bit... overwhelming?  I enjoy these DoC follow-ons, but I see some contradiction in Dredd's reflections on the 'Day', when really the deaths took place over many escalating days, and his stated attempts to avoid the De-Hab zones is at odds with earlier stories that have him making regular patrols in the post-Chaos wasteland sectors as a form of penance. 

Can we now add magic pigeons to the, errr, stable of mystic MC-1 animal companions?

Aquila is ace. Just ace. Everything I hoped this series would be when it started out. Rennie's deft structuring of episodic story can't be praised enough.

Hershey looks amazing, terrific design throughout, but seemed very light on plot this week. Still needs to really shine in that department to win me over.  The art is a given.

Skip Tracer was inconsequential. So little to cling on to that I was able to read it portrait-style on my 5" phone - testimony to Marshall's storytelling no doubt, but also indicative of an absence of substance. When all I can remember about it five minutes later is cadaver-wang, it's clear that my patience is gone.  Get the talented Messrs Peaty and Marshall onto something else, Thargy, they're wasted struggling on with this series. 

Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: broodblik on 09 April, 2020, 01:55:52 PM
If you like the cover, this is how it was made:

https://2000ad.com/news/2000-ad-covers-uncovered-simon-fraser-talks-hersheys-surprise-cover-appearance-on-prog-2176/ (https://2000ad.com/news/2000-ad-covers-uncovered-simon-fraser-talks-hersheys-surprise-cover-appearance-on-prog-2176/)

(https://2000ad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SF3.png)
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: norton canes on 10 April, 2020, 10:36:24 AM
I have to admit I'm a bit embarrassed about saying last week's prog was 'one of the best ever'. 

Because this week's is twice as good.

Truthfully, everything is firing on afterburners. Even the afterburners are firing on afterburners. And... before-burners.

Every strip is incredible. Could 'Bird Lady' have been written or amended post-lockdown? If not, the line about pollution reduction and 'life coming back' is uncannily serendipitous. S-Geeks gores out gorgeously, Skip Tracer pares down to great effect, Aquila includes a lovely callback to Blackhawk's silver eyes and Hershey gives glorious grit.

Art and colours-wise, every. strip. looks. immense.

For all this to happen any other time would be nice; but to get it now, under such testing circumstances, is like having a real beacon. Colossal thanks to every droid involved in getting these progs assembled and dispatched.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: broodblik on 10 April, 2020, 11:59:30 AM
Good prog yet again this week.

The one-shot Dredd reminds us of why you do not always a 6 parts  to tell a story. This certainly was not Niemand's best but still a good Dredd story.

Survival Geeks is one of those stories that grows on you overtime. Googe provides his normal great art and some nice interactions between the different nerd-folk.

Skip Tracer took awhile to build up to the main plot-line by providing little snippets of plot-threat every week. As always Marshall's art and Teague's coloring is a great combination.

The highlight of the prog is again Aquila. The story is well written by Rennie with some interesting usage of real history in the mix. 

Hersey does not really move the plot but the art is a joy to watch. I do liked the surprise that Hersey was still alive and we can now have the story out of her point-of-view.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: The Monarch on 11 April, 2020, 11:03:23 AM
still not got it should i be worried now?
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Richard on 11 April, 2020, 11:44:05 AM
Yes. Phone them and ask, they're very good at sorting out this stuff.
Expect prog 2177 to be late because it's Easter.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: The Monarch on 11 April, 2020, 03:00:26 PM
I sent an email two days ago still waiting for a reply
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 11 April, 2020, 04:38:31 PM
I dont know if it is just because I am just so very glad that the prog is being published throughout this whole horrific global situation, but everything seems so much brighter and better at the moment.

That Dredd was one of the best one-offs in ages, Skip Tracer is telling a compelling story (so much so, that I didnt see next week's cover as a "waste of advertising space" as I have done for previous ST covers. It's finally earned its place in the prog), Survival Geeks was okay and Hershey was beautifully drawn, thrilling and has a pleasingly old-school feel (I think it's that vertical logo). But bloody hell, Aquila is great. It looks beautiful, its genuinely interesting and it has made me want to reread all the previous installments in this lockdown. Was it ever part of the Meg floppies? I forget.

Please, Tharg. Keep on with the weekly schedule as long as you can- in print.

SBT
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: CalHab on 13 April, 2020, 08:53:28 AM
Hershey is outstanding this week. One of the best action sequences I've seen in a long time. Just brilliant.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: The Monarch on 14 April, 2020, 05:53:00 PM
Feeling like a mug right now. Still no issue subed three weeks ago no reply I know things are nuts and busy and all but I dropped a lot of money for that combi sub and I am feeling like a mug when my sister could have got me the prog at her work last week :(
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Richard on 14 April, 2020, 06:31:04 PM
Phone them tomorrow.
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: The Monarch on 14 April, 2020, 08:40:25 PM
whats the phone number?
Title: Re: Prog 2176 - Die Another Day
Post by: Richard on 15 April, 2020, 12:18:20 AM
It's on the inside front cover of your last prog.